ROLL CALL

Chairperson Jim Foran called the regular meeting of the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA) to order at 6:35 p.m. at the Open Space Authority Administrative Office, 6830 Via del Oro, Ste 200, San Jose, CA.

Members Present

Jim Foran, Alex Kennett, Virginia Holtz, Kalvin Gill, Garnetta Annable, Sequoia Hall, Mike Potter arrived at 6:40 p.m.

Members Excused Absent

None

Staff Present

Patrick Congdon, General Manager

Bill Parkin, Legal Counsel

Lauren Crook, Clerk of the Board

Jayne Brownlee, Accountant

Public Present

Dorsey Moore

Greg West

CONVENED TO CLOSED SESSION

6:35 P.M.

RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION

7:04 P.M.   No reportable actions.

OPEN SESSION

Chairperson Jim Foran called the regular meeting of the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA) to order at 7:06 p.m.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

Greg West stated that a meeting regarding Martial Cottle County Park will be held at the Almaden Community Center on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 5:45.

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

A. Kennett moved to adopt the agenda.  V. Holtz seconded the motion. 

The motion passed 7-0.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

None

MINUTES

Minutes of September 27, 2007

Motion:   V. Holtz moved to approve the minutes of September 27, 2007.  S. Hall seconded the motion. 

J. Foran stated that he had a change to page 4.  He noted that he attended the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council meeting and was elected to the Board of Directors.

V. Holtz accepted the amendment.  S. Hall seconded the amendment.

The motion passed 7-0.

NEW BUSINESS

Agenda Item #1: Public hearing for assessment refund claims filed by the Law Offices of Tony J. Tanke on behalf of multiple property owners.

B. Parkin introduced the item stating that the claims were filed by the Law Offices of Tony J. Tanke and the recommendation is that the Board deny the assessment refund claims. 

J. Foran opened the hearing to the public.

No members of the public were present.

J. Foran closed the hearing to the public.

Motion:  A. Kennett made a motion to deny the assessment claims.  M. Potter seconded the motion.  The motion passed 7-0.

Agenda Item #2: Authorization to purchase one vehicle – 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid

P. Congdon introduced the item stating that the vehicle would be purchased for use primarily for the administrative staff. He noted that the vehicle would also be used for off road use. 

Motion:  M. Potter made a motion to authorize purchase of a 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid.  G. Annable seconded the motion stating she had a correction on the Resolution to change “Explorer” to “Escape”.

P. Congdon also had a correction stating that the words “pick up truck” be replaced with “Ford Escape Hybrid”.  The motion passed 7-0.

Agenda Item #3: Discussion of Investment Policy

J. Brownlee greeted the Board and distributed a copy of the Investment Policy to board members and staff.

P. Congdon stated that after much research, J. Brownlee has developed the draft Investment Policy.  He noted that it has been reviewed by the Administration and Budget Committee on three occasions.  It has also been reviewed by legal counsel.  He stated that he would like the board to look over the document during the next week and to get their comments to him by the 18^th of October.  He stated that he would like to bring the policy to the board for their approval at the next regular board meeting.

J. Brownlee noted that it was also good business practice to have an investment policy in place.

Board discussion continued.

CONSENT CALENDAR

No items on Consent

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

CAC Committee Update (from liaisons) &

Agricultural Project Update

 D. Moore stated that the CAC did not meet.  He thanked P. Congdon for taking CAC members on a field trip of the south county properties.  He stated that he would be giving the board a partial report on the CAC’s agricultural project at the next board meeting.  He noted that he attended the Healthy Lifestyles conference in San Jose.  He recommended that the Board invite Sibella Kraus of SAGE to give a presentation.

Acquisition Committee

No report.

Use & Management Committee

No report.

Administration & Budget Committee

J. Foran noted that the committee met and the outcome was presented to the board with the item on the Investment Policy.

Agriculture and Conservation Mitigation Workshop Committee

J. Foran asked the board if they would like to have Sibella Kraus of SAGE to give a presentation.  S. Hall requested a presentation from SCVWD.

A. Kennett suggested the board attend a farm tour led by Jenny Derry of the Farm Bureau.

J. Foran suggested a workshop and farm tour on the same day.

General Manager’s Report

P. Congdon reported that there would be a public meeting on Wednesday, October 17 to talk about dog use on Authority lands.

Legal Counsel Report

William Parkin stated that the Governor signed SB 144 which included amendments to the Open Space Authority Enabling Act. 

Board Member Reports

Garnetta Annable stated that she had nothing to report.

Sequoia Hall stated that he had no report.

Alex Kennett reported he attended the Land Trust Rally in Denver.  He stated it was a land trust convention and not an open space convention. 

Virginia Holtz stated she attended the Land Trust Rally.  She noted there was not as much information about conservation easements as there was the previous year.

Mike Potter reported that the Authority’s interpretive coordinator got rave reviews from an old acquaintance.

Kalvin Gill stated he attended the Evergreen Community meeting and they were very interested in hearing from the Open Space Authority.

Jim Foran reported that he attended a meeting of the Bay Trail board; he noted there was a meeting of the San Jose General Plan visioning meeting on Saturday October 13 at San Jose City Hall; he stated that he attended the CSDA conference in Monterey; he noted the Bay Area Ridge Trail dinner would be coming up and stated that if any board members were interested they could contact him.

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 8:23 p.m.